Stem cell patent indicates support for regenerative medicine research
The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent to Israeli biotechnology company BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics, which covers stem cell technology that can be used in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.
US patent 8,663,987 was granted days after US Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced legislation to establish a strategy to boost research into regenerative medicine.
It covers BrainStorm’s proprietary stem cells, which are derived from autologous bone marrow cells, and can support the neural cell network by protecting existing motor neurons, promoting motor neuron growth and re-establishing nerve-muscle interaction.
BrainStorm is developing its own NurOwn stem cell therapy for the treatment of motor neurone disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), sometimes known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and is preparing for the technology’s phase II trial.
“The recent bill introduced to the US Senate to support regenerative medicine research is yet another indication of the increasing recognition that stem cells hold the promise for curing life-threatening and debilitating conditions like ALS,” said BrainStorm’s president and principal executive officer Chaim Lebovits.
“We are very encouraged by the bill’s proposal to appoint a council that would develop and maintain a national strategy for the promotion of regenerative medicine research and development, including identifying priorities and sources of funding, as well recommending policies to overcome barriers in research and product development.”
